Carbon constraints in the Mediterranean
European Union member states have fixed a common target of reducing their CO2 emissions by 8% by 2012 in comparison with 1990, and imposed measures to constrain their energy-intensive industrial sectors (i.e. energy sector, mineral industry, production and transformation of ferrous metals and pulp production). This measure does not apply to countries south and east of the Mediterranean, which are not on the list of countries that have historically contributed to the global rise in greenhouse gases. Thus, only companies North of the Mediterranean currently appear concerned by the effects of the carbon constraint. Nevertheless, Europe’s ambitions to reduce its energy consumption whilst developing clean electricity production, its intention of extending the quota system on European emissions to international activities, the question of carbon leakage, and the absence of benefits for SEMCs from the carbon energy market – all illustrate that we need to think about this problem on a Euro-Mediterranean scale.
The Mediterranean geographic area is under great threat from global warming. Adapting Mediterranean economies towards achieving a reduced carbon footprint is crucial and will affect all sectors of the economy (e.g. housing, transport and industry) and involve changing our lifestyles, behaviour and way of thinking.
IPEMED pilots multi-sector brainstorming with a range of industrial stakeholders whose activities generate greenhouse gases.
The goal is to develop systems that prompt reduction of emissions and encourage the creation of regional strategies by sector.
ipemed.coop